Falcons decline McKinley's 5th-year option

The Atlanta Falcons declined the fifth-year option for defensive end Takkarist McKinley, the team announced Wednesday.

McKinley tweeted the Falcons' decision hours earlier on Twitter.

The Falcons selected McKinley in the first round of the 2017 draft, 26th overall. After amassing 13 sacks in his first two seasons, the UCLA product recorded just three sacks in 2019. He played in 14 games and was sidelined for the final two weeks of the season due to a shoulder injury.

McKinley is the only Atlanta first-round pick from 2012-17 to have his fifth-year option declined (Desmond Trufant, Jake Matthews, Vic Beasley, Keanu Neal).

This offseason, teams are allowed to extend rookie deals of any player selected in the 2017 draft and to exercise the fifth-year option for their first-round selection from that year. They have until May 4 to pick up the option.